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Marquita Burch, 26, was arrested Saturday and charged with abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence in the death of William Cunningham.

Police had been searching for Cunningham since Friday evening.

Family members said the boy was being watched by a babysitter, Marquita Burch, 26.

Police initially said Cunningham was last seen on Welsh Drive about 5 p.m. Friday. They said Burch told them he was playing with other kids in the park behind one of the apartment buildings and didn't return home.

At that point, Burch called police, officers said.

On Saturday afternoon, Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney Rob Sanders said Covington police were no longer looking for the boy and that Cincinnati police had taken over the investigation. Sanders said investigators do not believe the boy was ever in Covington on Friday night.

Authorities said Burch, who was interviewed by Covington detectives Friday, recanted her story and told investigators Saturday that the child died on Sheehan Avenue in Cincinnati.

Cincinnati police said Burch directed District 5 officers to an apartment on Winton Road where she had moved the body. Investigators said Cunningham's body was found in a hall closet inside the apartment.

Burch was ordered held on $500,000 bond on Monday. One of the boy's relatives said Burch is a family friend and that she often watched the boy for days at a time.